Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-12
A EowIEKsIFE DIVORCE.
seoas Harding Hears OF HIS Daugh'
fsr's sse7st Marriage.

"
tanned the following interesting story:
The prod OF q cold bowie-knlfe has Sept
rated Frank Gordon from the sixteen. year
old ballad.singer he married at Meirose
| lust before New-YeaI's. Young Mr.. Cor
don II now Of the opinion that II does not
pay 10 marry the daughter OF patent
medicine Indian scout.
Aboutfor noble Kickapoo braves were
recently led into the little hamlet OF Mel
rose, where there are lots Of rocks aud goats
and small brick houses. Their leader was
Dr. T.. II. Harding, who never cuts his
hair, and Is looked up TO as a great warrior
by the Kickapoos. DIR. Harding was a
scout once. BY myster1ous wigglings OF
his hand he can pull mans teeth out with
his naked fingers; at least he says so, and
IN the Kiekapoos believe him. Every night
the Doctor and his savages give an enter
iaInment IN Hsfen's Hall, One Hundred
and. d.ffty-second street and CORTLAND ave
nue.. Here stage performances are given
and advertisements Of the scouts patent
medicines are dexterously sandwiched in
between the acts.
The most attractive feature Of the enter
tainments has been Matte Harding, the
pretty daughter Of the medical scout. She
has big, black eyes and soft raven xesses.
Her songs were nightly applauded. Matte
was cold 10 all admirers until Frank Cor.
don came along and Joined the show. Cor
don is pltasant-faced young fellow. who
owns troup Of performing dogs. He wa
never a scout, and he Is not doctor. but he
has q way with dogs that is simply irreslsti-
bic.
SECRETLY MARRIED.
Gordon and his dogs became the sole OBJ
jeet Of the romantic singers existence.
Even the Kickapoos nudged each other AMI
cooked their heads significantly as the young
pair made eyes at each other.
Two nights before New.fear's Gordon
declared that he could stand the pressure OF
affection no longer. Ii was arranged be-
tween them that they should be secretly
married that night. Matte told her father
that she was going to an entertainment OF
the Melrose Bowling Club that night with
the wife OF ex-AldeTman Haffen. As
matter Of fact she did go to the entertain.
ment, where she was Joined by Gordon aud
Charles Deanot, the ticket-tlEer OF her
fathers show. The trio were driven in a
carriage TO the residence OF the Rev. Mr..
Lang. OF d.fity-sixth street.
Here Gordon was married to Matte, Mrs.
Larg serving as a witness. The welded
In the patent-medicine symposium Of song
and sermon.
The next night was New-Year's eve.
When the Kickapoos had retired to rest in
their lairs Dr. Harding proposed that the
rest Of his company should sit up and see
the old year out. They at once adjourned
TO Mr.. Hafen's bar.room. Gordon was
particularly Jolly, and drank many bum
peIs. His cheeks became flushed, and his
manner demOnstratiIe. IL struck The
Young man that better opportunity 10
announce his marriage to his long-haired
father-in.law would never pre7ent itselI.
A STARTLING RECEPTION.
So, with swelling chest and unsteady
steps the dog. trainer arose and walked up
TO The scout. He fixed his eyes as steadily
as he could upon his unsuspecting rela'
tive, and slapping him famlliarly on the
shoulder, cried:
"Congratulate me, old man. Pm your
son-in-law. Shske!"
"W hat ?"
OTIS true. had the honor to marry
your daughter last night"
o." Go away; | don't want any nonsense
"Upon my honor it's so. I'm your SON.
in-law. Shske!"
Dr. Harding did shake. II was with
Si .You are my son.iu.Iaw, are your" he
shouted hereby. " Well, you won't remain
so long"
Reaching back under bis coat-t0ils the
Doctor drew flashing bowie knife from
his belt and made slash across the table.
The keen blade just graZed Gordon's
breast and cnt his coat. Or. Harding
leaped at the Young man, and the bright
steel performed lightning circles in the air.
Two or three men OF tie company threw
themselves upon the excited father aud
held his arms. While the struggle went
on Gordon left the room without mention
ing where he was going. DR.. Harding
then buried upstairs and questioned his
daughter. The girl at first denied the mar
riage, but finally acknowledged ii.
WHERE Is GORDON,
Young Gordon has not since claimed his
wife. 4 friend OF his called upon DIR.
Harding and took away the trained dogs,
but declined TO say where Gordon was. Tue
KickapOos have held several councils over
the affair, and have wagged their heads
mysteriouSly. In the mean time the young
balIad.smger continues TO raylsh the echoe.
OF belrose with her voice until her bus.
I band returns.
Another me0lciuc.scout whose Indians
ravage the borders OF Moserole avenue,
Brooklyn, has written 10 DR.. Harding that
there Is woman in that city who claims 10
be Gordon's wife. IL Gordon returns to
Melrose be will probably meet with an in
teresting reception.
DR.. Harding, with his band OF Kickapo0
Indians, was recently in Richmond, and
and held forth at the Skating Rink, on
Broad street, for several weeks.